IRB Information

Institutional Review Board Overview

Each CCMH member center that contributes data to the CCMH National Database via Titanium Schedule has undergone the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process at their individual institution, and has received either an approval or exemption determination from their IRB.

Prior to submitting an application CCMH recommends that centers consult with their local IRB office. The data that is contributed to the CCMH National Database is anonymous, de-identified data. About 50% of our members that contribute data have received exemption from the IRB process. IRB’s do differ at each institution, so it is worthwhile to consult with your IRB office to assess if your data contribution may be exempt from review.  If your institution does not have a local IRB, please reach out to CCMH directly to arrange an alternative approval process.

CCMH works closely with individual centers to navigate the IRB application process. Our goal is to ensure that this process is as seamless and efficient as possible for each center. If your center needs assistance with your IRB application, or would like to receive sample IRB materials you may contact the CCMH Project Manager at [email protected].

Once a center obtains an IRB determination, and this determination is sent to CCMH, your work is largely done. The Principal Investigator at each university uploads data on a monthly basis via Titanium Schedule. The time requirement per month is less than 5 minutes. We know that time at college counseling centers is sparse and wanted to make this process both beneficial and easy.

Certificate of Confidentiality

Certificates of Confidentiality (COC) are issued by NIH for the purpose of protecting identifiable research information from forced disclosure through legal means. CCMH consulted with representatives from NIMH and it was determined that CCMH is not eligible for a COC because: (a) source data is located in the confidential  treatment records at each university and (b) pooled data is de-identified, anonymous, and cannot be linked back to the source data. Visit NIH and learn more about COC’s.